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Limited English Proficiency

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Implementation Strategy of the U.S. Department of Justice and Untied States Department of Agriculture Guidance sets forth the recommended strategy and step-by-step procedures for ensuring that persons with Limited English proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access to programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It provides technical assistance to help recipients and sub-recipients implement USDA's Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding the Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Persons With Limited English Proficiency and to come into and maintain compliance with LEP requirements.

This guidance does not impose any new requirements, but reiterates longstanding Title VI and regulatory principles and clarifies USDA and NIFA's positions that, in order to avoid discrimination against LEP persons on the ground of national origin, recipients must take reasonable steps to ensure that LEP persons receive the language assistance necessary to afford them meaningful access to NIFA's programs and activities, free of charge. By following the recommendations and using the resources contained herein, recipients should be better able to prepare and implement language assistance plans and to effectively communicate with LEP individuals who interact with their organizations.